All Things Vegan explores a variety of issues relating to food, animal, and environmental concerns in Bend, Oregon, and around the world. All Things Vegan airs every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 5-6 p.m., on Bend’s Community Radio station, KPOV Community Radio.

Life with the McCulloughs: Going vegan for vanity, raising kids on plants, dancing with the stars, and an ex-hunter is born.

In this episode, we introduce you to Luke & Jilly McCullough, ballroom dance instructors from Central Oregon who are raising their three children in a vegan lifestyle. You’ll hear their joys and struggles as they strive to raise their family in a new tradition. As an ex-hunter, Luke speaks frankly about the struggle of breaking from his family hunting culture, while maintaining strong family values and ties.

And, as always, we highlight and analyze News from the Vegan Frontier, let you know about vegan related happenings in and around Central Oregon, and more!

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Interviews:

Luke & Jilly McCullough

When Jilly McCullough decided to become vegan, she didn’t know about the plight of the animals, factory farming’s effect on the environment, or even the health benefits. She just wanted to lose the 50 pounds she had gained while a freshman in college. After crying herself through the chapter on the horrors of factory farming in John Robbins’ Diet For a New America, weight loss became secondary. It was time to embark on a new lifestyle, one that did not contribute to such suffering. Jilly got married and went on to raise her three children on a plant-based diet, and never looked back. (And she lost the weight, too.)

Luke McCullough slipped into the vegan world with ease. A vegetable lover and longtime chef, it was a relatively simple transition for him. His biggest struggle came from pulling away from the long-held hunting culture of his family and friends. Reading Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn, had a profound influence on him as he took a step back to examine some long held beliefs. He’s now creating new traditions for his three kids, ones that do not include bonding through death; on their hiking and camping trips they will carry a camera, not a gun. Luke feels much better than he ever did when he was on a meat-based diet, and is thankful for that because it takes a lot of energy to keep up with three young kids who “never, ever stop.”

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Veg Out ‘N About (in Central Oregon):

Sarah’s Raw and Vegan Cafe, a tiny but inviting space tucked into an out of the way back alley, opened this month and is already very busy. Sarah’s features a wide selection of freshly made superfood smoothies, raw granola, raw crackers and cookies, and special raw entrées and desserts for lunch. Entrées include colorful dishes such as Cream Curry over spinach, “raw chili,” and zucchini and yellow squash “pasta,” and the dessert of the day could be something delicious like raw banana cream pie. All items on the menu are raw, and most are vegan (with the occasional exception of honey in some items). Orders can be placed ahead, but there are always extra smoothies and more on hand. There’s a small seating area inside and more room on the porch for those nice weather days.

Raw Uncooking classes are held every Friday at 1:30 p.m. Sarah will teach participants how to make a raw healthy vegan dish. Everyone receives a copy of the recipe and gets to enjoy the meal. Sarah’s is located in the back of Cafe of Life Chiropractic at 519 NW Colorado Ave, Bend. Hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-4pm and Friday 8am-2pm.

VegNet Bend monthly meeting and potluck: 6p, March 28, The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend. Bring a vegan dish, your recipe, and a place setting. This month’s program focuses on leg-hold and Conibear traps being used by trappers in Oregon. Irene Hardwick Olivieri, of TrapFree Oregon, will speak about the group’s efforts to ban such trapping in Oregon. Jennifer Kirkpatrick will speak about her own experience with a leg-hold trap. Learn how to protect yourself and your pets from the dangers posed by traps set up close to hiking trails and other public areas.